A Book of Medical Discourses, in Two PartsCrumpler, Rebecca Lee
Science
A Book of Medical Discourses, in Two Parts
Crumpler, Rebecca Lee
Child care; Children -- Health and hygiene; Infants -- Care; Infants -- Health and hygiene; Women -- Health and hygiene
The nourishment during this time should consist of the breast-milk, if
possible; if not, arrow-root boiled in milk and gum-water, fed from a
spoon twice a day, or oftener. But either should always be given about a
half hour after any medicine, unless otherwise directed. Cold water
should never be allowed to a patient while medicine is being
administered, the nature of which is unknown. Light, air, sponging the
body with warm salt water, a change of clothing or bedding, each tends
to stimulate the pores, quench thirst, and give tone to the whole
system. Thin flour-gruel acts as a pasty lining to the entrails. After
the irritation has ceased, great care is required to prevent a relapse;
therefore in all cases when the breast-milk cannot be obtained, the
various vegetable astringents should be relied on to build up the
muscles, the different grains, as corn-meal, starch and oatmeal, given
often but in small quantities, will build up the fat cells. If, after
the liver has been acted upon, the green stools do not cease, and there
seem to be a general weakness of the digestive organs, the juice of the
blackberry, raspberry, or whortleberry, will, in most cases, effect a
cure; also, the rinds of ripe peaches boiled in milk till well done,
strained, and given when cool—a teaspoonful five or six times during the
day, and about as often at night—is excellent. The effect of either of
these remedies should be closely watched, as by their astringent nature
they might induce constipation.
With a view to the comfort of the sick one, and the convenience of the
nurse, it is better to prepare a bed of some light material, on which
the patient can lie with its body flexed. Too often the little creature
is forced to lie in a narrow place, or more frequently on the lap, in
one position, till it would seem as if it would be paralyzed. There
should be two sets of bedding in order to expedite recovery. The
material should consist of goods that could be easily washed, and kept
clean. It is essential, too, that flannel be worn by the sick one; but
it is a sad mistake to imagine that flannel clothes do not need changing
as often as cotton ones.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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